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The LIVE DOLLS’ 
BUSY DAYS 


























aSUfcKUB 


The valentines began to prance about the room See page IOO 


The LIVE DOLLS’ 
BUSY DAYS 


By 

JOSEPHINE SCRIBNER GATES 

11 


Author of 

THE STORY OF LIVE DOLLS 
MORE ABOUT LIVE DOLLS 
THE STORY OF THE LOST DOLL 
THE STORY OF THE THREE DOLLS 
THE LIVE DOLLS’ HOUSE PARTY 
LITTLE RED WHITE AND BLUE 


Illustrated by 

VIRGINIA KEEP 



INDIANAPOLIS 

THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 



Copyright 1907 

The Bobbs-Merrill Company *'* 



September 


4 



f 


0 




fufFARY of CONGRESS] 
Two Coole* Received 

SEP 18 »90f 

0 CeoynfW Entry 

Oep5^ 1 

CLAS34 XXc,, No. 

7 

COPY D. 



PRESS OF 

BRAUNWORTH & CO. 
BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS 
BROOKLYN, N. Y. 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

The valentines began to prince about 

the room (See page ioo) Frontispiece 

The baby held out its little hands to the blaze i o ^ 

“Now,” said Janie, “we’ll play dairy” 24 

The dolls politely stifled their smiles 36 

The play-room was at once turned into 

a Boulevard 48 

“I always carry extra eyes in case of accident” 60 

They gladly took possession of Janie’s 

beautiful doll house 64 

The other girls longed to take the baby 66 

The little Brownie sent forth a squawk 74 

Janie became fascinated over an unusual sight 

just in front of her 88 


















The LIVE DOLLS’ 
BUSY DAYS 



CHAPTER I 

And what do you think Santa Claus brought 
Janie*? 

Just what her little heart had been longing for, 
the sweetest baby doll you ever saw ! 


1 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


Christmas morning Janie danced ahead of her 
papa and mama out to the play-room. For an 
instant she paused to exclaim over the decorations 
of holly and Christmas bells, which, with the 
crackling fire, seemed to echo the joyful cry of 
“Merry Christmas!” and as she swiftly glanced 
about, she beheld the precious treasure lying in a 
cradle, and such a cradle ! — of white wicker, with 
blue linings and ribbon bows. Snuggled in 
among the blankets, with its dear little head on 
a ruffled pillow, was the wonderful baby, ap- 
parently sound asleep, as though weary from its 
long ride with Santa Claus. 

As Janie raised her from her downy nest, the 
sky-blue eyes opened wide, and she gazed wonder- 
ingly into her new mama’s face. 


2 


BUSY DAYS 


Janie promptly smothered her with kisses, and 
no real mother was ever more blissfully happy 
over her own little new baby than was our Janie 
now. 

She patted the little face, tenderly caressed the 
soft silken curls which covered the head, clasped 
the dimpled hands in her own, rejoicing in the fact 
that they were so like a real baby’s; then turning 
her attention to the clothes, she found her robed 
in a dainty night-dress and snugly pinned up in 
a flannel blanket. 

The first thing most people do when they get 
hold of a baby is to look at its feet, and, as Janie 
was just as curious as “most people,” she turned 
back the little nighty, and with a thrill of delight 
unfastened the pinning blanket, and there, oh, the 

3 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


cunning bootees, adorned with ribbon bows ! 
These she pulled off and found the dainty feet, 
which she nestled in her hand as she counted the 
tiny toes. 

Satisfied that each foot had five toes, no more 
and no less, she gently kissed them, as all moth- 
ers do, replaced the warm coverings, pinned the 
blanket securely about them, then drawing down 
the nighty she ran to show mama her treasure, 
crying, “Isn’t she the very sweetest baby doll you 
ever saw? And just see the cradle, with sheets 
and scalloped blankets, and the spread with the 
pretty bows; and there’s a really truly mattress; 
see it, Mama, isn’t it cunning?” 

“Indeed, it is, but, Janie, what’s that beside the 
cradle?” 


4 


BUSY DAYS 


Janie looked, and there, oh, would wonders 
never cease? There stood a dresser, which Janie 
knew must contain clothes for the baby. Sure 
enough, when she opened the various drawers, she 
found them filled with all sorts of garments — 
dresses, petticoats, blankets, knitted jackets and 
bootees, and even a long coat and bonnet edged 
with swan’s-down. 

On top of the dresser was a baby basket trimmed 
with lace and blue ribbons, and beside the dresser 
was a bath-tub, just the right size for the wee 
stranger! Janie could hardly believe her eyes, 
but there they were. 

She decided at once to give the doll a bath, for 
she must need it after her long journey with Santa 
Claus. 


5 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


“But, dearie / 5 cried papa, “aren’t you going to 
see what’s in your stocking?” 

Well, of course, she had forgotten about that in 
the excitement, so she sat down on the floor with 
her dolly in her lap, and from the stocking drew 
many gifts which delighted her heart. Among 
them were a wee brush and comb, a soap-dish that 
just fitted a tiny cake of soap, a powder-box and 
puff, a wash-cloth, and a milk-bottle with a rubber 
mouthpiece; all ready to play “pretend” to her 
heart’s content. 

The stocking empty, Janie placed these things 
in the basket, filled the tub, and went to work to 
give the new baby a bath. 

She removed the baby’s clothes, gently bathed 
its face and neck, then placed it in the tub, making 
6 


BUSY DAYS 


it splash about with its hands and feet, exactly 
as she had seen real babies do. 

Dolly seemed to enjoy it as much as Janie, for 
she dimpled all over with smiles through the whole 
performance. 

Finally she was taken up, carefully dried, and 
then came the blissful moment of puffing the pow- 
der, which Janie did so vigorously that they both 
looked as if they had been through a spell of sick- 
ness. 

Next, the baby must be robed in her very pret- 
tiest gown, because it was Christmas; and then, 
as babies must always be fed and have a nap after 
a bath, she was placed in her cradle with the bottle 
of milk pressed close to her mouth, so that she 
could eat or sleep at will. 

7 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


Janie then emptied and dried the little tub and 
tidied up the room. As she sat down in her small 
rocker by the fire, a heavy sigh came to mama’s 
ears. 

“My dear child, aren’t you happy?” mama cried 
in surprise. 

“Yes, indeed, Mama, I think I never had any- 
thing I loved as I do this baby, except Rosabell!” 

“Then what is it? I tried so hard to have Santa 
Claus bring just what you wanted.” 

“Well, Mama dear, he did; but it seems to me I 
never wanted a doll to be alive as I do this one. 
It would be so cunning to hear it gurgle and goo, 
and to see it move its little hands, and smile. And 
how I would love to hear it cry!” 

Mama laughed heartily, and replied: “So 

8 


BUSY DAYS 


would I. I just love babies, and I thought as you 
were bathing it what fun it would be to see it kick 
and stretch and twinkle its eyes the way babies do. 
But then I suppose we can’t always have every- 
thing we want. Look out the window, isn’t it a 
beautiful day ! See the snow sparkling in the sun ! 
While baby sleeps, why don’t you let Rosabell 
watch her and you go out with your sled?” 

“Janie,” called papa in great excitement from 
his position at another window, “look up the street 
and hark!” 

Janie sprang to his side and listened eagerly. 
Soon the chime of distant bells came to her ears, 
with the joyous peal of the silver trumpet. 

Again and again it sounded, and as it dawned 
upon them all that it was unmistakable, that it 

9 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


surely announced the approach of the dear Queen 
of Live Dolls, who had visited them before and 
made the children so happy, the three joined hands 
and with one accord danced about, while Janie 
wildly cried: 

“Now the baby will be alive! Oh, goody, 
goody!” 

Papa and mama were just as glad as Janie, for 
they, too, loved the Live Dolls, and they all flew 
to the door just in time to see a gay little cutter 
draw up and stop. 

The King and Queen, clad from top to toe in 
sealskin, shouted a cheery “Merry Christmas!” as 
they clambered out. As they came up the walk, 
Janie spied something in the Queen’s arms, and 
exclaimed: “Oh, Mama, she has a baby, too!” 


10 
















\ 












s 


* 



The baby held out its little hands to the blaze 


Page ii 




BUSY DAYS 


And so she had! — the tiniest little morsel that 
ever breathed. Janie held out her arms for it, and 
as it nestled up to her, it gurgled and gooed, just 
as Janie longed to have her baby do. 

Never had the Queen received a warmer wel- 
come. When the wraps were removed from the 
baby, and it lay in Janie’s lap, enjoying the 
warmth from the fire, holding out its little hands 
to the blaze, and trying so hard to talk, the child 
was wild with joy. 

Then when the Queen learned of the addition 
to Janie’s family, she said at once that of course 
there was nothing to do but to bring that baby to 
life. 

“You see, Janie,” she said, “I wanted to give 
you something for a Christmas present, and the 


ll 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


King suggested that perhaps you had a new doll, 
and that, of course, if you had you would love 
to have it come to life, and, I am sure, since I see 
what fun it is to have a live doll of my own, I 
feel as though I want to come to you as often as 
possible; so if you really think that Cloverdale is 
ready for more Live Dolls, I will wave my wand 
any moment you say.” 

“They are always ready for them,” said mama, 
“and I think it would be a beautiful thing to do 
this holiday time.” 

Janie was speechless with joy, as she listened. 
She ran over to the cradle to see if it had happened 
yet; but no, the baby doll had not moved, and the 
milk was still in the bottle; not a drop had been 
taken out. 


12 


BUSY DAYS 


“Well,” continued the Queen, “I have made a 
plan this time by which the children will profit 
with their play, and I hope mama will approve of 
it, too. 

“How would it be, after New Year’s, to turn 
this big room into a work-room? I will send from 
Dollville everything for housekeeping — tubs, 
wash-boards, clothes-bars and irons for the laun- 
dry; and a tiny range with pans and kettles for 
baking and cooking. You can furnish them with 
needles and thread, so they can mend, and Janie 
has a little broom, I see. So they can do all of 
the things housekeepers do, and in between we 
will plan something else, for 'All work and no 
play makes Jack a dull boy.’ How does that 
sound, Janie?” 


13 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


Janie stood with hands clasped, drinking in 
every word. 

“Do you mean that we children can wash and 
iron, sweep and mend, and really and truly bake 
and cook? Have a fire, and everything?” Janie 
was almost trembling with excitement. 

The Queen twinkled and nodded. 

“Then I think it’s almost the best of all ’cept 
Fluffytown. I think nothing could ever be any 
nicer than those paper dolls!” — and Janie threw 
her arms about the Queen, forgetting the birdling 
nestling in her lap, who set up an outraged wail, 
for Janie was leaning against her a little too hard 
for comfort. 

This made them all shout, for it was such a 
lusty cry; but the Queen quieted the baby as she 

H 


BUSY DAYS 


talked over her plan, and papa and mama heartily 
agreed to do their best to carry it out. 

After a jolly visit and a hot lunch the King and 
Queen departed, telling Janie to watch and be 
ready for the first Monday after New Year’s, as 
Monday was wash-day in every well-regulated 
household. 


15 


CHAPTER II 


Such fun as they had when the great wagon ar- 
rived piled high with household goods! 

All the children of the village were there to 
help, and great excitement reigned. 

The carpenter had made a pantry with shelves, 
16 


BUSY DAYS 


which were all daintly covered with scalloped 
papers, ready for the shining tins and cooking- 
dishes. 

One shelf was reserved for a tea-set with gold 
bands, for, of course, they were to have real tea- 
parties and eat what they cooked. 

In one corner of the room the gay little range 
was set up, and near that was a curtain which 
formed a partition, so that the laundry could be 
by itself. Here were placed the tubs, wash- 
boards, a dear little boiler, and a number of tiny 
irons. 

The children busied themselves filling the 
shelves with the pots and pans, exclaiming over 
them from time to time, for they certainly were 
adorable. 


17 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


Then they put away sugar, flour, butter, eggs, 
baking powder, and everything needed for cook- 
ing, each article being packed in tiny jars as they 
were in the stores in Dollville. 

All this had happened the week before, and, 
when Monday morning came, the children came 
tumbling into the enchanted room, each carrying a 
doll. 

As they entered they found Janie bathing the 
new baby, who gurgled and chuckled, kicking its 
feet about in the greatest glee to the accompani- 
ment of Janie’s laughter. At once the dolls wrig- 
gled out of arms, tumbling over one another in 
their eagerness to prove that they were really and 
truly alive once more. 

“See,” Janie cried, “we 2te to wash to-day. 
18 


BUSY DAYS 


The boiler is on and everything is ready for us 
to go to work as soon as I get baby dressed.” 

While they waited they all joined in the familiar 
kindergarten jingle: 

“ This is the way we wash our clothes, 

So early in the morning.” 


They were here interrupted by a timid knock 
at the door, which Janie answered. There stood 
such a funny Live Doll, a small colored girl, who 
said bashfully: 

“I’s Topsy, an’ I hear you-alls want a maid- 
of-all-work. I knows cookin’ some, an’ I kin 
scrub an’ build fires an’ take out you-alls’ ashes.” 

Just here Janie’s mama entered the room, sup- 
pressing a smile as she glanced at the new-comer, 
19 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 

who looked very odd in her yellow dress and bon- 
net. 

Thinking it a good chance for a lesson, mama 
told Janie she must ask her where she had been 
working. 

To this query Topsy replied: 

“I’s jist from home. I ain’t got no references, 
but I got some friends what knows the President. 
I ain’t goin’ to steal nothin’, ’kase I’s honest. 
Case I’s hongry in between meals I jist eat potato 
peelin’s. Won’t you-alls please lemme stay?” 

She looked so wistfully at the little group that 
mama advised the girls to take her. She could 
help about the kitchen and watch the baby while 
they worked. 

“And now,” said mama, producing some ging- 


20 


BUSY DAYS 


ham aprons, “here are your uniforms. Put them 
on and let us start in. I think we’d better be 
called the B. B.’s, Busy Bees, for that is what we 
shall be this week. The dolls had better stay over 
in that corner, out of the way.” 

“Why,” chorused the girls in dismay, “here are 
tubs and everything for them just the same as for 
us. Can’t they play, too?” 

“Well, well, the poor little chickadees! I for- 
got that they would want to play. Of course they 
may. Just see the cunning tubs and wash-boards 
on purpose!” 

So all hands went to work sorting out the 
clothes. Kerchiefs, stockings, dresses and under- 
wear were placed in small heaps, and then, under 
mama’s direction, the little workers soused them 


21 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


in the suds, poked them about in the tiny bright 
boiler, rinsed them, put them through the small 
wringer, and at last Topsy carried the well-filled 
basket on her head to the yard, where they were 
hung in the sunshine to dry. 

“It’s a fine windy day/’ said mama, “they will 
soon be dry. Now we must clean up the laundry, 
wipe the boiler so it will not rust, and leave a lit- 
tle water in the tubs so they will not fall apart. 
Topsy can help you wash up the floor and clean 
the stove, and then you can go to your dinner, 
and towards night we will sprinkle and fold the 
clothes for to-morrow’s ironing.” 

The children departed in high glee; this had 
been great fun. They had always wanted to wash 
for their dolls, but somehow it wasn’t a success, 


22 


BUSY DAYS 


for the clothes always looked worse afterwards, 
all streaked and grimy; and besides this they 
spilled the water and spoiled the floor. Here 
everything was just on purpose, and as they ran 
down the street they looked with pride at the line 
full of white garments swaying in the breeze, and 
longed for the morrow when they could iron and 
lay them away in small neat piles. 

They skipped gaily along, planning what they 
should do until the important moment arrived 
when the clothes were to be sprinkled, and sud- 
denly Janie, who had come part way with them, 
stopped and cried excitedly: 

“Oh, girls! I’ve thought of something! You 
remember the small dolls the Queen gave us when 
we came from Dollville? Bring them, after din- 
23 


THE LIVE DOLLS 


ner, except the paper dolls. Save them for an- 
other time. We’ll have loads of fun! Why 
didn’t we think of it, so they could be alive, too? 
We’ll divide the play-room up so each family can 
have its own home. I know a fine thing to play. 
When you come back I’ll tell you all about it!” 

So after dinner each child appeared with a 
sleigh full of the small Live Dolls, which the dear 
Queen had presented to them at the end of the 
wonderful house-party. These dolls, it will be re- 
membered, were from various foreign countries, 
and as they came the air was filled with their chat- 
ter and rippling laughter. As they unloaded and 
scampered into the house, an odd picture was pre- 
sented, for they had been played with so long that 
many of them were much the worse for wear. 
24 











“ Now,” said Janie, 


“ we’ll play dairy ” 


Page 24. 










BUSY DAYS 


They were not broken, for their tender-hearted 
mothers were most particular to keep their little 
bones in the best of order, but their clothes were 
torn and they really appeared very shabby. 

Mama laughed heartily when she saw them, but 
comforted them by saying that if they would be 
patient till mending day came, their wardrobe 
should be furbished up in fine style. 

“Now , 55 said Janie, “we’ll play dairy. I have 
washed a lot of bottles, so each one can have some, 
also a pan and pail. I have divided the room so 
the small dolls can have their own homes, and we 
will make milk and sell to them. The dolls can 
make tickets while we get the milk ready. Mama 
used to play this when she was a little girl, and she 

told me how. This is the way : Put water in the 
25 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


pans and make it sudsy, so; skim off the foamy 
part and put in a bottle for cream, then put the 
rest in bottles for milk. Save some of the thickest 
suds, and in that put some flour and a little yellow 
paint like this, and that’s butter. See what fine 
little pats it makes, and, oh, let’s stamp it with 
the stamper! Isn’t that lovely?” — and Janie 
held up a most beautiful imitation pat for inspec- 
tion, which was very inspiring. They all went to 
work with the greatest zeal, preparing the milk, 
cream and butter for early delivery. 

Mama as usual entered into the play with great 
spirit, and made some milk-carts from large boxes, 
tying a string to one end, and soon the dolls as 
gallant steeds were racing up and down the room, 
selling tickets and delivering their products. 

26 


BUSY DAYS 


They had much amusement with the foreign 
population. The Dutch and Scotch dolls hailed 
them with delight, for they were very fond of 
milk. 

The Japs politely refused it and asked if they 
could bring them some rice. The Indians grunted, 
took a little, and demanded some game. The 
French dolls tossed their heads scornfully and said 
that the milk was not very good. Janie, deter- 
mined to give satisfaction, hastened back to her 
station, and made a whole new lot of milk and 
cream for the special benefit of the French dolls. 
They were having great sport when mama called : 

“Time to bring in the clothes. Put on your 
wraps, and be very careful not to tear anything in 

pulling off the clothes-pins.” 

27 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


The basket piled high with the sweet-smelling 
garments was soon in the room, and the little 
clothes were quickly sprinkled, folded and ready 
for the morrow’s ironing. 

“In the morning,” continued mama, “you would 
better leave the Dollville dollies at home, as the 
large dolls will want to iron, and you could not 
accomplish much with so many about. In the 
afternoon you can bring them and let them play 
with you. But before you go you must all help 
to put the room in order. Good housekeepers 
never go to bed till everything is spick and span. 
The dollies can sit on the sofa while you straighten 
up.” 

So to work they went, and with a hearty will, 

for they were enjoying every moment of this play 
28 


BUSY DAYS 


work-time, or work play-time, whichever it was, 
and soon all traces of the game had vanished. 
The shining tins and bottles were in a row on the 
shelves, the tickets were in a box waiting for the 
next time, the floor was wiped up, the hearth 
swept, a basket of kindling was placed by the lit- 
tle range, and the irons were out, ready for duty. 

An atmosphere of peace hovered over every- 
thing, and our little people beamed with joy. 
They watched for a time the cheery blaze in the 
fireplace, thought over the pleasures of the day, 
and those that were to come, and finally went their 
way. The dollies bobbed their heads this way and 
that, as, from their positions in the various sleighs, 
they tried to look on all sides at once at what was 
to them a strange, new world. 

29 



CHAPTER III 

The next morning when the children awakened 
they were much surprised to find it raining hard. 

The January thaw had set in and the snow had 
all disappeared. It looked very gloomy, but 
30 


BUSY DAYS 


Cloverdale children had been taught the beautiful 
lesson of making sunshine in the house whether or 
not there was any without. This was ironing day, 
too, so what cared they for bad weather? 

The streets were soon full of Busy Bees, clad 
in waterproofs and rubbers, carrying umbrellas, 
all eager to be on hand in the play-room at the 
regular hour. When mama appeared she found 
the children and dolls arrayed in clean gingham 
aprons, ready for work. 

Janie proved herself a good little manager, for 
baby had had her bath and was sleeping peace- 
fully in her cradle, so that her mama could iron 
her baby clothes. 

Topsy had been up for hours and had the irons 
hot, the ironing-boards and iron-holders all ready. 
31 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


As the children busily plied their irons they sang 
joyously: 

“ This is the day we iron our clothes, iron our clothes, iron 
our clothes; 

This is the day we iron our clothes, 

So early in the morning. ,, 

Mama seemed to be everywhere at once, show- 
ing this one how to iron the stiff petticoats, that 
one a gown, or another a tiny sheet. 

The dolls reveled in the kerchiefs and other 
small pieces, and by noon the bars were well filled 
with the glossy garments, all nicely done. Then 
the children sat down to rest and to plan some- 
thing for the rainy afternoon. 

“I know,” said the dear mother, whose fertile 
brain never failed them in any emergency; “come 
32 


BUSY DAYS 


over to our attic. It is warm, and there are trunks 
and boxes filled with all sorts of things. You can 
rummage to your hearts’ content. You might 
dress up and have plays. It is a fine place for that 
and with the Live Dolls I think you could have 
great fun. As the snow is gone you can’t bring 
the Dollville dolls in your sleighs, so perhaps you 
had better pack them in market baskets and carry 
them on your arms. They will enjoy that, I am 
sure.” 

The girls presented an amusing picture after 
dinner, coming up the street, each carrying an um- 
brella over her basketful of dolls. 

And such a time as they had ! At first they de- 
cided to let the dolls stand up so they could see 
out, but the midgets were very curious, and per- 
33 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


haps not very comfortable. They crowded and 
pushed, and, I am sorry to say, quarreled ! 

All the mothers could hear was: 

“Don’t step on my toes !” 

“Stop pulling my hair!” 

“She put her elbow in my eye!” 

At last the girls called a halt, and said severely : 

“Stop! You are naughty. If you are not good 
we shall send for the Queen to make you dead.” 

“Let’s make them lie down,” said Janie; “mine 
will fall out if I don’t, for they all get in one end 
of the basket and make it feel so tippy.” 

And so the naughty dollies were laid out like a 
lot of sausages going to market. They were so 
frightened at the awful threat that had been made 
they never whimpered the rest of the day. 

34 


BUSY DAYS 


What child does not love an attic, especially 
on a rainy day? 

How awe-inspiring it is to hear the rain so close, 
yet to know it can not touch you! As they lis- 
tened to the patter, patter, they turned out the 
contents of trunks and boxes and reveled in the 
quaint gowns, hats, bonnets and night-caps. 

They were so busy at first they paid little atten- 
tion to the dolls, who, led by Rosabell, were also 
on a voyage of discovery. They were finally re- 
warded by a very rich find in the shape of a doll’s 
trunk, away back in a dark corner. 

They tugged away at the lid, which finally 
yielded, and disclosed an odd, old-fashioned doll, 
who immediately sat up, looked about and bash- 
fully said: 


35 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 

“Who are you and what are you going to do 
with me?” 

Rosabell replied : 

“Why, we have come to see you; what is your 
name ?” 

“Mirandy Alviry Wiggins / 5 primly replied the 
doll. “What is yours ? 55 The dolls politely 
stifled their smiles at this old-fashioned name, 
which sounded very odd to them. 

“Mine is Rosabell, and these are Lucile and 
Marie . 55 

“What queer names ! 55 said Mirandy. “I never 
heard of Rosa Bell, but Lucy and Maria used to be 
quite common in my day. I never saw dolls like 
you, either. Your eyes seem to go when you move, 
and your hair looks like people’s hair. My hair 
36 


















mm .Hi ^ iiWMiioWf i" ] i w ?* 1 . 1 . 1 i. ^ 


r\ 


The dolls politely stifled their smiles 


Page j6 





















BUSY DAYS 


was always china, and is very much neater, / 
think.” 

Such a queer doll as she was ! She had a china 
head and a cloth body, in which many rents would 
have leaked sawdust had she not been alive. On 
her feet were kid shoes, and her dress, made in the 
fashion of the long-ago, with tight waist and full 
skirt, presented quite a contrast to the gowns worn 
by the other dollies. 

“What are you a-going to do?” asked Mirandy. 

“Well,” replied Rosabell, “our mamas are 
dressing up in a lot of old clothes they found in a 
trunk, and we wish we could do the same, but we 
haven’t anything to dress up in.” 

“Oh,” said Mirandy eagerly, “take my clothes. 
Here’s a whole trunk full, and I am sure they will 
37 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


fit you,” — and she quickly emptied the trunk, scat- 
tering the contents about among the visitors, who 
put on the odd garments in the greatest glee. 

Mirandy reserved for herself what used to be 
her Sunday go-to-meeting dress. After arraying 
herself in this, she acted as maid for the other dolls, 
and soon the whole group pranced over to their 
mamas to show off. 

They were greeted by a chorus of shrieks and 
laughter, which finally resolved itself into, 4 'How 
funny! Where did you find them, and who is 
this?” When the secret was out, Janie in horror 
clasped Mirandy in her arms, crying: 

“She was grandmother’s, and I never was al- 
lowed to touch her, for fear I might break her. 
We must put her right away!” 

38 


BUSY DAYS 


“But I’m not going to break now. Fm alive, 
and I don’t want to stay in that old trunk!” Mi- 
randy wistfully declared. “Do let me stay and 
play with you. I never was alive before, and I 
used to wish so hard that I could be.” 

“Well,” said Janie, “we must go down to 
grandma’s room and ask her. You girls stay here. 
I’ll be back in a moment,” — and Janie, holding 
tight to Mirandy’s hand, took her way down-stairs. 

Dear old grandma sat by the fire knitting, and 
as Janie entered the room, she glanced up. When 
she caught sight of the doll, she threw up her 
hands, crying: 

“Why, Mirandy Alviry Wiggins, all in your 
best bib and tucker!” 

As she talked she took Mirandy on her lap and 

39 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


held her close, as she was wont to do in the days of 
her childhood. 

“And to think I should live to see this day! 
You alive! Dear me suz! And you went and 
put on your best dress without asking. I declare, 
I’ve a notion to box your ears!” 

“What’s that, Grandma?” asked Janie respect- 
fully. 

“Well, child, how your education has been 
neglected! That’s what used to happen to us 
when we disobeyed. Many a box have I had till 
my poor ears rang.” 

“And so have I,” said Mirandy with a sly twin- 
kle. 

“To my shame be it said, you poor lamb! I did 

to you just what was done to me. It was a cruel 
40 


BUSY DAYS 


thing, for it caused many a child to lose its hearing. 
Well, Mirandy, do you remember the day I put 
you away? My mother decided I was too old to 
play with dolls. I was only a mite of a child, but 
I had to do my stint each day, — piece bed-quilts, 
hem towels and sew the seams of sheets. My, how 
my poor little arms used to ache and long to hold 
you, Mirandy! and the day I put you away, how 
I wept ! It broke my heart to give you up, but I 
played you were Genevra. You know about her, 
Janie, — how she ran up into the attic her wedding 
night and hid in a trunk. When they found her 
she was dead. Mirandy was a new-fashioned 
Genevra, but here she is, found alive. Bless my 
soul ! It does my old eyes good to see you, Mi- 
randy. Now you may run out and let me have my 
41 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


nap. So much strange excitement has quite tired 
me out.” 

The two scudded back to their play, stopping 
for an instant to surprise mama with the appari- 
tion of Mirandy alive. 

When they reached the attic they found the girls 
about to have charades. Two curtains stretched 
across a line shut off the stage, and the dolls and 
children were audience and actors in turn. 

Such a time as they had, guessing and producing 
the various scenes! Finally they wound up with 
a thrilling play which grew a little too realistic, 
when Lucile in blood-curdling tones shrieked: 

“ I will have revenge! Die, villain!” As she 
gave the fatal stab she made a misstep, and thrust 

one fat foot through the ceiling of the room below, 
42 


BUSY DAYS 


arousing poor grandma, who thought there must 
be an earthquake when she saw the shower of plas- 
ter falling about her. She was greatly relieved 
and amused when, on looking up, she saw the fat 
leg frantically struggling to be released. She 
called mama to go to the child’s rescue. 

The “villain 55 was soon himself again, and now, 
as it was growing late, the clothes were packed 
away, all except Mirandy’s, for she was to join 
the family. This greatly pleased the children, as 
she was so unusual, and so delighted and happy 
to be with them. 

“To-morrow , 55 said mama, as they were about to 
start for home, “you must bring your own little 
work-baskets. Ask your mothers for some bright 
pieces, and we will make a lot of clothes for these 
43 


BUSY DAYS 


small dolls. Thursday, you know, is visiting day, 
and we want them to be dressed up, for I know a 
lovely thing that is going to happen then, if the 
weather is good.” 


44 



Wednesday morning the play-room presented a 
picture of a very busy day. 

The shabby dolls were undressed and measured 
for new clothes. While they waited they wore 
their pajamas and played about on the rug before 
the fire. 


As mama cut out various garments, the girls 

45 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


mended the clean clothes they had ironed the day 
before, for mama said no good housekeeper ever 
put anything away till it was in perfect order, all 
ready to wear. 

This done, the girls lost no time in getting at 
the new clothes. They busily plied their needles, 
eager for the moment to arrive when they could 
try them on and see how they fitted. 

As they worked mama produced a number of 
spool boxes, in which she said the new garments 
should be kept. 

“When I was a little girl we always had small 
dolls and kept their clothes in these boxes. The 
clerks in the dry goods stores were besieged by 
little girls begging for them. In the separate 
boxes we kept petticoats, silk dresses, cotton 
46 


BUSY DAYS 


dresses, and so on. Then when we came to visit 
one another we piled these small boxes in one large 
one. That was a trunk, and we never saw any 
other kind of doll trunk.” 

The girls decided that mama’s girlhood must 
have been very fascinating. She always seemed 
to know so many nice things to do that they never 
heard of. 

They worked away, anxious to get enough 
clothes to fill the small boxes; mama helped, and 
before night each doll’s wardrobe was complete 
and the little boxes were full. 

There were tiny petticoats made from bits of 
embroidery; silk dresses from scraps of bright rib- 
bons, cotton dresses of all colors. Then there were 
hats and bonnets, bead necklaces and bracelets. 

47 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


They dressed the dolls in the finery, and were 
standing off to admire them, when mama appeared 
with a surprise. 

Janie’s mama was most unusual, always think- 
ing of something nice for them. This time it was 
a lot of fine carriages fashioned from the small 
boxes, each one covered with flowered creton of 
different colors. 

The lid of the box was set up at one end, form- 
ing the back. With a string attached to the other 
end, the dolls could be drawn about the room. 
Very proud they were, dressed in their new clothes, 
to ride about in such gay coaches, with Rosabell 
and the other large dolls for horses. 

The play-room was at once turned into a Boule- 
vard, and it was some time before they wearied of 
48 





The play-room was at once turned into a Boulevard Page 













































































































































































































































































































































































































































































BUSY DAYS 


watching these ladies out for a fashionable drive. 

“It is like the festivals they have in Paris / 5 said 
mama. “The carriages are trimmed in flowers, 
and the ladies ride round and round while the 
judges decide which is the prettiest, and then the 
prize is awarded. 

“When I was there I rode in one of the flower- 
trimmed carriages. It was completely covered 
with roses, the wheels were trimmed with green, 
and the top was a mass of the beautiful flowers. 
A prince threw a bouquet at me, which I treasured 
for years. Now you’d better go out for a hop, 
skip and jump in the fresh air, then go to bed early 
and be ready for the treat the Queen will give 
you to-morrow. Be on hand with your dollies at 
nine o’clock sharp, and be sure to dress warm.” 
49 


BUSY DAYS 


The children ran home with their dolls and 
boxes, all declaring that each day was better than 
the one before. Their last drowsy thoughts that 
night were, what more could be thought of that 
they had not yet done 4 ? 


50 



CHAPTER V 

Thursday morning dawned bright and clear, and 
found the children in a great hustle preparing for 
they knew not what. 

By nine o’clock they were on their way to 
Janie’s, dressed so warm they felt like stuffed 
toads. 

As they turned the last corner they saw in front 
of Janie’s house two automobiles, one very large, 
in charge of a chauffeur, and the other a dear little 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


thing in which were seated the King and Queen 
of Live Dolls. 

The King was blowing the silver bugle, puffing 
out his cheeks till they were purple. 

After a joyful greeting the children learned that 
they were to have a ride out into the country in 
the motor-car. 

When Janie and Ptosabell appeared, the children 
were tucked away in the large car, and the dolls 
in the small one with the King and Queen. 

“You see , 55 said the Queen, “how kind the 
weather was ! First the snow melted, and now the 
road we want to take is as hard and smooth as a 
floor. It is just cold enough and not too cold, so 
we shall have a fine time. We are to have lunch- 
eon at a hotel miles away. So here goes ! 55 Wav- 

52 


BUSY DAYS 


ing hands to the little group in the window, papa, 
mama, Topsy with baby, and Mirandy, away they 
flew. 

“Why didn’t Mirandy come, Janie?” asked 
Dorothy. 

“Mercy! She never even saw a railroad train, 
and when she saw these motor-cars, she looked so 
frightened, and said, 'Land o’ Goshen! They 
haven’t any horses, — isn’t that awful!’ And 
when she found we were going in them she was 
horrified. She thinks we’ll never get back alive. 
The dolls have been telling her about telephones 
and telegraph wires, and she thinks this is a crazy 
world. In her day there was nothing but stage 
coaches, and it took ages to get anywhere or to 
send a letter. My, isn’t this lovely!” Janie 
53 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


leaned back to enjoy the ride and to watch the 
small car with its jolly chattering group. 

For some miles all went well. They enjoyed 
the excitement their appearance caused, as was 
noted by the heads which appeared in the windows 
of the various houses they passed. Suddenly they 
were startled by hearing their driver exclaim in 
a shocked tone : 

“Ach! they are gone!” 

Sure enough, the small car had come to grief. 
No one knew how it happened, but when the chil- 
dren reached the spot they found the dollies all 
tumbled in a heap. The air was filled with cries 
and moans, which only lasted for an instant, as the 
Queen immediately waved her wand. 

The children, wide-eyed and frightened, went 

54 


BUSY DAYS 


over to help remove the injured dolls. The King 
and Queen, who were happily unhurt, were busily 
lifting out the now silent and maimed forms. It 
was a sad state of affairs. 

“We’ll take them all back to that last house and 
see what can be done,” said the King. “It was 
lucky the Queen brought her wand. They don’t 
even know they are hurt, and I have some fine 
glue that mends so you can’t even find the crack. 
Just leave it all to me, and these little people will 
soon be as good as new.” 

This cheery news stanched the tears that were 
ready to fall, and the children felt quite jolly 
when the Queen exclaimed : 

“We’ll turn that house into a hospital. The 
King can be chief surgeon and we can be Red 
55 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


Cross nurses. When we get them all mended 
we’ll have great fun watching the people when the 
dolls come to life. My, won’t their eyes open 
wide!” 

She led the way to the farm-house, where they 
found the whole family out watching them, seem- 
ingly paralyzed over the accident. 

“Can we come to your house and stay while we 
get mended up?” the Queen asked. 

“Certainly,” said a sweet voice from the door- 
way; “come right in. What can we do for you?” 

“We’ll not make you much trouble. We have 
broken our dolls, and we want a table to lay them 
on while we mend them,” said the Queen. 

“You can have that and welcome,” — and the 
hostess drew out the table, placed some chairs 

56 


BUSY DAYS 


about it and stood off to watch these strange pro- 
ceedings. 

“Are you Tom Thumb and his wife 4 ?” she in- 
quired, as the King entered the room. 

“Bless you, no! We are just dolls who have 
been alive many years.” 

“Well, are you from that bewitched town we’ve 
heard about, where dolls come alive every so 
often?” 

“You have guessed it,” laughed the Queen. 
“This morning we started for a pleasure ride, and 
this is what happened. So we want to get 
mended up and go on.” 

As she talked, the little lady, with the children, 
worked rapidly, dexterously sorting out the vari- 
ous legs, arms, feet, hands and eyes. The King 
57 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


soon had them in place, and the dolls seemed in 
perfect order. 

“Now,” cried the Queen to her open-mouthed 
audience, “watch them come alive!” — and with 
her wand she drew the magic circle. At once the 
dolls sat up, looked about wonderingly, and 
started to walk. But, alas ! The King and 
Queen never realized before how haste makes 
waste. Such a din you never heard! It was so 
funny the children sent up a shout, and the King 
and Queen, though vexed, had to laugh with 
them. 

They had not paid especial attention to the vari- 
ous parts, taking it for granted that they all fitted. 
Alas, for such short-sightedness! The work must 
now be done over. 


58 


BUSY DAYS 


As the dolls realized what was the matter, they 
went running about, looking for what rightfully 
belonged to them, exclaiming: 

“You’ve got my other foot !” 

“I want my own curly hair!” 

“I’m lame. I can’t walk with one leg longer 
than the other. I’ll have to have a crutch.” Re- 
membering the accident which had happened to 
the cook on a former occasion, one little dolly 
cried : 

“I’m like Dinah, my feet are turned the wrong 
way.” 

“My hair doesn’t go with my eyes at all, — who’s 
got my yellow hair?” 

One poor little mite lisped timidly: 

“My eyes don’t feel comfy. I keep looking at 

59 


THE LIVE DOLLS 


the end of my nose, when I don’t want to. 
What’s the matter with them?” 

“You poor little lamb, you are cross-eyed, and 
I do believe the King is color blind, for one 
eye is brown and one is blue! Come here, now, 
all of you, and let me find the mates to these 
eyes.” 

The dolls scrambled over one another in their 
efforts to range themselves in a row before the 
Queen, with eyes open very wide, each one much 
disturbed for fear she was the unlucky one. 

“I can’t find it,” wailed the Queen, after search- 
ing carefully a dozen pair of eyes. “I can straight- 
en her eyes, but I can’t color them. My dear hus- 
band, however did this happen?” 

The little King, looking very serious, peered 

6o 




i 




“ I always carry extra eyes in case of accident ” Page 6r 











BUSY DAYS 

anxiously into the mismated, and now tear- 
dimmed eyes, carefully scanned those open for 
inspection, and thought a moment. Then, much 
relieved, he put his hand in his pocket, drew out a 
number of eyes, and exclaimed : 

“I remember now. I always carry some extra 
ones in case of accidents. Here they are. Which 
will you have, my dear, blue or brown? You pay 
your money and take your choice. 5 ’ 

“Well,” said the wee one bashfully, “my eyes 
always were blue, but I believe I’ll have brown 
for a change . 55 

“All right, brown it is, 55 — and with a twinkle the 
little monarch mounted a chair and shouted, “I 
have a few more eyes left. Any one else want to 

change while we are at it? Now’s your chance to 
61 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


grow beautiful. No extra charge. Painless pro- 
cess!” 

“Stop your nonsense, my dear,” the Queen in- 
terrupted. “We must hurry. Be patient, dol- 
lies, and you will soon be all right.” In a moment 
the dolls were again lifeless. 

“Too bad,” said the King. “All my fault, — I 
was in such a hurry. Now we’ll try to correct 
these miserable blunders,” — and with his pen- 
knife he removed wigs, broken limbs, feet, and 
cross eyes. Soon he had these separate parts in 
their proper places, and they were ready to depart. 

“Now may I pay you something for the trouble 
we have caused?” asked the Queen of the kind 
hostess of the farm-house, who had not missed one 

particle of this interesting performance. 

62 


BUSY DAYS 


“Indeed, no! I never went to a theater in my 
life, but I think they never could V had one bet- 
ter than this, and we’ve had a free ticket and the 
best place in the house. Thank you, and come 
again!” 

And so the “play actor” folk went their way, 
had their hot luncheon, and reached home with no 
more mishaps. 

When Mirandy heard the news, of course she 
said, “I told you so.” But the children declared 
it was all great fun, and that the accident turned 
out to be the most fun of all. 


63 



CHAPTER VI 

“To-day,” said mama to the bright-eyed group 
armed with brooms, dust-pans and sweeping caps, 
“we are to sweep the doll house and put it in per- 
fect order. The whole family has gone to Doll- 
ville, and will return Saturday. So I thought it 
would be a good plan to get the room ready for 

64 



They gladly took possession of Janie’s beautiful doll house Page 65 











BUSY DAYS 


them. To-morrow when we bake we will fill 
Dinah’s shelves with good things, which will de- 
light her heart. She went with them to take care 
of the little ones.” 

This was the best of news to the children, and 
they gladly took possession of Janie’s beautiful 
doll house, where the dolls and children had had 
so many happy hours, and went to work. 

"Brush off the mattresses, shake out the blank- 
ets, and after you sweep, make up the beds with 
clean linen,” instructed mama. "Each girl can 
take a room and do the best she can with the dolls’ 
help.” 

And so they did, and a fine time they had sweep- 
ing and dusting, polishing the tiny panes of glass 
and various mirrors, arranging rugs and draper- 

65 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


ies. At last, when all was finished, mama came 
to view the result. 

“It is a great pleasure to see work so well done; 
this was a good lesson for you all , 55 she said, after 
inspecting each room. “I find no dirt in corners 
or under the furniture. Now, you can come over 
to the play-room and rest for to-day, as you have 
had a busy week . 55 

“I’m looking forward to to-morrow , 55 said one of 
Janie’s little friends. “It will be such a lot of 
fun to use the tiny pans and to bake in the new 
oven . 55 

“Come early and we will see if we can’t turn 
out some bread and cake that any bake-shop might 
be proud of , 55 said Janie’s mother. 

Janie was glad of a chance to cuddle her baby, 

66 



mmm 


/.v ’ Vi', 




The other girls longed to take the baby 


Page 6? 


















BUSY DAYS 


for she had really been too busy this week to do 
her duty as a mother. 

The other girls longed to take turns with the 
baby but mama thought they would better not. 
She said the baby would begin to wonder who her 
mama really was, she had seen so little of her 
lately. 

“Let her stay with her mama to-day, and after 
she gets well acquainted with her, the rest of you 
can borrow her occasionally. 5 ’ 

“But maybe she won’t be alive after these busy 
days are over,” suggested one. 

“Time will tell,” replied mama with a twinkle 
in her eye, “but I have a notion that Live Dolls 
are going to take possession of this town from now 


67 


BUSY DAYS 


“Do you think they are alive for always?” 
chorused the girls. 

“Well, I can’t say as to that, but I think you 
can have them alive whenever you say the word. 
Wait and see what the Queen has to say about it.” 

This was joyful news with which to end the 
day. The children went to their little beds, glad 
indeed that they had been born in Cloverdale. 


68 




the day we. bake oar 
in the 


CHAPTER VII 

As the children entered the play-room on Sat- 
urday morning, they heard Topsy singing the gay 
little tune at the top of her voice, soaring higher 
and higher: 

“ ‘ Bake our bread, bake our bread, 

This is the way we bake our bread, — ’ 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


“Oh, have you come a-ready? Well, the 
missus and Miss Janie will be here in a moment,” 
— and she went on with her work, getting out flour, 
sugar, eggs, raisins, milk and everything needed 
for the work of the day. 

“Good morning, Busy Bees,” said mama, who 
now appeared with Janie. “We’ll get right to 
work, for we have so many things to make. Be- 
sides filling Dinah’s shelves, I want to make 
enough for your tea-party.” 

Then all the children waited for orders from 
mama. 

“The first thing to do is to scrub hands and 
nails well. I suppose yours are clean, but as that 
is such an important thing we will start in that 

way. We won’t make bread to-day, but leave 
70 


BUSY DAYS 


that for another time. You must all tuck your 
curls into these caps; all tidy cooks do that.” 

After the bewitching little caps had been put on 
mama gave a task to each one. 

“First, we are to make a number of loaves of 
cake. I shall let each child make one. We’ll have 
sponge cake, chocolate cake, bride cake, jelly cake, 
and some plain loaves, besides cup cakes. Now, 
we will get the raisins ready, sift the flour, beat 
the eggs separately, measure the sugar, flour and 
milk very accurately. Never guess at anything.” 

My, what a beating followed! What bliss to 
see the butter and sugar grow creamy, and what 
a lovely fluffy mass it was when the frothy eggs 
were turned in! Finally, when the batter was 
ready, a “try” cake was made. All watched 
71 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


eagerly for the moment when it should be taken 
from the oven, and when every crumb was de- 
voured and it was pronounced perfect, the batter 
was poured into the round tins and square tins, 
and shut securely in the oven. 

“Do not open the oven too soon, and when you 
do, be very careful not to slam the oven door, else 
the cake might fall. While these cakes are bak- 
ing, we’ll stir up some good old-fashioned ginger- 
bread.” 

Here Mirandy came forward, eagerly saying: 
“Oh, let me have some dough. Grandma always 
used to give me some, and I made gingerbread 
dolls.” 

“Me too, me too,” came from all the dolls. 

Mama laughed as she gave them each a dough 
72 


BUSY DAYS 


ball, while they crowded about Mirandy for in- 
structions. 

“This is all there is to it,” she said. “You just 
pat it out this way, and then pinch it up, cut out 
its arms and head, put in two currants for eyes, 
pinch up its nose so, and push in a mouth so, and 
there it is, — as plump as a partridge.” 

Each child held up a doll to mama for inspec- 
tion. 

“That’s great,” said mama, laughing, “and we’ll 
lay them on this pan, and then into the oven they 

55 

go- 

Before long the contents of the oven were ready 
to be removed, as the children learned by piercing 
each cake with a straw. 

“Here, Mirandy,” cried Topsy, “take you-alls’ 

73 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


gingerbread babies. Better try ’em with this 
straw first,” — and the dollies all stood about 
watching this operation with the greatest inter- 
est. As Mirandy poked the straw into a little fat 
stomach, the little Brownie sent forth such a 
squawk that the children and dolls jumped. Mir- 
andy dropped the pan, whereupon the Brownies 
scrambled to their feet, jumped over the sides of 
the pan, and raced about, climbing on to the table 
in a jiffy, sampling currants, dipping fingers into 
the cake-dishes, where bits of batter remained, and 
licking their fingers in impish glee. One little 
rascal fell into the sugar-bowl head first, where he 
stood for a moment wildly kicking his feet in the 
air till Mirandy rescued him. Another stood on 
the edge of a bowl which contained yolks of eggs, 
74 






The little Brownie sent forth a squawk Page 14 










BUSY DAYS 


and in he went, flopping about, spattering the 
eggs all over everything. 

Another teetered on the side of the platter full 
of chocolate frosting, and, of course, before he fin- 
ished he had a chocolate-frosting bath. 

This performance came so suddenly that the 
whole crowd was simply paralyzed and could do 
nothing but watch, for it was certainly a light- 
ning act. The little midgets danced from one 
thing to another so quickly that no one could 
catch them. Rosabell did get hold of the Brownie 
who came from the egg bowl, but he slipped from 
her grasp like an eel ! 

They grew so very saucy that mama said em- 
pathically : 

“Mirandy, you must make them behave. They 

75 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


are your creations . 55 Mirandy, greatly excited, 
cried : 

“Stop, every one of you, or I’ll burn you black 
in the oven ! 55 

This awful threat sent them all over in a cor- 
ner, where they cowered shivering, awaiting the 
punishment which they knew they deserved. 

“Now stay where you are till I decide what shall 
be done . 55 

Much troubled, she whispered to mama, asking 
what they could do. 

“We can’t even eat them , 55 she said, “they 
would howl terribly. I’d feel like a cannibal.” 

It was a problem, and one mama hardly knew 
how to solve. She finally decided to telephone 
to the Queen. That settled it, of course, and the 
76 


BUSY DAYS 


receiver was scarcely hung in its place before the 
Brownies lay on their backs, a pitiful sight, in- 
deed. 

“There,” said Mirandy to the dolls, “eat them 
if you can. I 5 m sure I can’t . 55 

“Indeed not , 55 said the dollies in chorus; “they 
were too cunning to eat . 55 

“Let’s stand them in a row on the mantel , 55 said 
Rosabell. 

“Yes,” laughed mama, “and Miranda can make 
a motto and hang over them, ‘Be good if you want 
to stay alive ! 5 55 

“My! but we have wasted a lot of time over 
those monkeys. Now we must frost these cakes 
and make our pies,” said energetic Janie. 

“Topsy, you can make the lemon filling. Mir- 

77 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


andy can peel some apples, and the others can help 
me , 55 said mama. 

She marshaled her forces well, and they all 
plunged into the work, while the dolls glanced 
fearfully at the Brownies. 

“Speakin’ of pies reminds me , 55 said Topsy, 
“oncet I made a lemon pie, as purty a pie as you- 
alls ever saw, with a big high frostin’, an’ I set it 
in the pantry winder. It was summer-time, an’ 
what do you-alls think happened? Cockadoodle- 
doo! There stood a rooster plumb in the middle 
of that pie, a-flappin’ his wings an’ a-spatterin’ 
hisself wussern those Brownies, with frostin’ and 
lemon custard. I screeched at him so hard he flew 
away lookin’ mighty ruffled in his mind. Likely 
he wondered what kind of a mud-puddle trap I 

78 


BUSY DAYS 


done set for him. But the whole thing went out 
of the window, though it was too bad, — such a 
good pie, an 5 he such a purty little rooster, — I 
reckon you-alls ’ve seen them guinea critters ’at 
looks as if they had gingham aprons on.” 

All shouted at this story, and mama said she 
had always admired those chickens, all speckled 
as if they had measles. 

“Yes,” said Topsy, “an’ speakin’ of measles, I 
done had ’em once. I went after ’em.” 

“You did!” said mama, surprised. “How did 
that happen?” 

“Well, we-alls was quite a fambly of chillens 
an’ we’d never had the measles, and mammy heerd 
they had ’em up to Johnsings’, a right smart piece 
up the road, an’ so she ’lowed it was a good time 
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THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


for us to have ’em, spring cleanin’ done gone by 
and she could take keer on us. So I walked all the 
way up there in the hot sun. I didn’t jes’ know 
what measles wus, but I ’lowed it would be nice 
to git somethin’ for nothin’, so I set round, an’ 
Miz Johnsing she said, ‘You better go home, 
Topsy, we done got measles here.’ £ Yas,’ I said, 
‘I know you have, an’ I ’lowed I’d git a few to 
take home.’ I waited right smart, and listened an’ 
watched, but I didn’t see nothin’ of no measles. 
So I went ’long home, an’ bime-by I done feel so 
mean, and mammy laffed and said, ‘You done got 
’em all right.’ And sure enough, I did, and so did 
ever’ las’ one of us, and I guess mammy had 
enough of measles before all nine of us got well.” 

Another shout of laughter followed this funny 

8o 


BUSY DAYS 


story; but now the pies were baking, and the 
children all watched for them to come out of the 
oven. As Janie lifted the last one of lemon from 
the oven, exclaiming over its beauty, somehow it 
slipped, and went spinning over the floor, going 
around and around like a top. 

As they all stood watching it, anxiously wonder- 
ing which way it would turn when it finally got 
tired of its whirligig dance, Topsy came to and 
caught it just as it was about to flop over top- 
side down. 

“Now, let’s put this roast in the oven,” said 
mama, and they watched with interest while she 
prepared it for its fate. 

“That will be all ready for Dinah to serve to the 

hungry dolls when they arrive. Now we will 
81 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


make a pan of biscuit, which we’ll have with honey 
for our tea-party. Topsy may dice and cream 
those cold potatoes, and we’ll set the table and try 
some of these good things, for I know you are all 
hungry.” 

So they ate off the pretty gold-banded plates, 
drank cocoa, which was poured from the cocoa-pot 
into the tiny cups, and had a merry party. 

After it was over they placed the cakes and pies 
in tempting rows on Dinah’s shelves. Then they 
came back to say good night and to thank mama 
for the lovely day. 

‘Tm glad you have enjoyed it; and now when 
you reach home get everything ready for church 
to-morrow. It is a good thing we can have a quiet 

day, for this week has been very full.” 

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BUSY DAYS 


So the little mothers departed with their brood 
of dolls, and that night their dreams were of 
Brownies, lemon pies, and speckled roosters, with 
a few measles sprinkled in between. 


83 


CHAPTER VIII 


All the girlies in Cloverdale were singing this 
song on Sunday morning as they prepared them- 
selves and their dolls for church. 

As this was the Live Dolls’ first appearance in 
that sacred edifice, the children knew that they 

84 


BUSY DAYS 


must talk to them very seriously about good be- 
havior. 

“You mustn’t speak out loud,” said Janie. 

The dolls, seated in a row, were much impressed, 
and one politely inquired what church was and 
what they did there. 

“Well, church is where people go to sing and 
pray, and the minister talks and every one keeps 
very still, except when they sing.” 

“Can we sing?” 

“Yes, you may sing, but you must not talk, for 
that disturbs every one.” 

As the bells pealed out their sweet message, the 
streets were filled with dolls and people. 

Unusual interest was in the air, as five children 
were to be baptized, — quite an event in the vil- 
85 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


lage. This, together with the fact that Live Dolls 
were to be on hand, filled the church to the doors. 

Mirandy Alviry Wiggins sat up very prim. 
She wouldn’t turn her head, “not if the meeting- 
house took fire;” but the other dollies were twist- 
ing and turning, determined that nothing should 
escape their eyes. 

All went well for a time. They listened atten- 
tively until the moment arrived when the minis- 
ter announced the baptism. Up the aisle came a 
father, mother, and five little tots, one a tiny baby 
in arms. The children trotted bravely along, all 
except one small boy, who lagged behind. Sud- 
denly, as he caught sight of the minister waiting 
for them, he turned, and shot like an arrow out of 
the church. 


86 


BUSY DAYS 


This created much excitement, and one doll 
wildly cried to Janie: 

“One got away! One got away!” 

However, the sexton soon brought him back, to 
the great relief of all concerned. 

After the ceremony came the sermon, and quiet 
reigned for a time. 

But dollies, who aren’t used to being alive very 
often, do not like to keep still, and they were soon 
in a state of unrest. 

Topsy, in her effort to be quiet, twisted a lock 
of hair about her finger so tight that her finger be- 
gan to swell. When she found she couldn’t 
loosen it, she grew frantic, and tears began to drop 
as she asked Janie in an agonized whisper if the 
finger would have to be cut off. 

87 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


Janie released the imprisoned finger, and then, 
at a disturbed cry on the other side of her, she 
found another doll in trouble over a lost finger. 
It seemed to be a finger day. This doll, in putting 
her gloves off and on, accidentally left one glove 
finger turned in, and that silly doll, after match- 
ing the fingers of one hand to the other, found a 
finger missing and was much distressed. 

Janie pointed out the missing finger, and had 
just got herself settled when she herself became 
fascinated over an unusual sight just in front of 
her. 

An old man had dropped into a doze, and as he 
slept he nodded his head so hard his wig became 
loose. At last, at a sudden quick movement, it 
fell into Janie’s lap. The poor man jumped and 
88 



Janie became fascinated over an unusual sight just in front of her 

Page 88 







> 


BUSY DAYS 


looked around in dismay. Janie restored the lost 
property as quickly as possible, but a general titter 
was heard from those near enough to view the 
calamity. The wig was replaced, and Janie be- 
gan to feel that her troubles were over, when she 
was suddenly startled by hearing a doll pipe up 
in shrill tones, to the tune of Hiawatha : 

“ Oh, the lady of the Lake, 

Found a snake in the cake. 

Did she eat it, well, I guess she did, 

I guess she did.” 

A ripple of laughter swept over the audience at 
this outburst, and the musical soliloquy was rudely 
interrupted by Janie, who told her she must not do 
that. 

“But you said I could sing, 5 ’ sobbed the mite, 

89 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


and Janie had a serious time making her under- 
stand she could sing only when the others did. 

“But they don’t sing anything I know, and I 
want to go home. I’m hungry.” 

Begging her to be patient, Janie distributed 
some pink and white peppermints along the line, 
hoping they would last till closing time. 

It was evident that many dolls were thus enter- 
tained, for when the collection plate was passed 
it was plentifully sprinkled with these candies. 

Every one was glad when that service closed, 
and as they finally went out into the sunshine they 
could hardly resist skipping a little. Such a relief 
as it was to stretch their legs! 

Mirandy, much shocked at the proceedings, re- 
marked : 


90 


BUSY DAYS 


“In my time children were seen and not heard; 
that little boy who ran away would have been put 
right to bed without any dinner, and that doll that 
sang — Land o’ Goshen! I tell you — she would 
have been fed on bread and water for one whole 
week!” 

“My!” said Rosabell. “I’m glad we were not 
born then!” 

That afternoon Janie gathered her brood in the 
play-room and was about to have a Sunday-school, 
when in walked the children and dolls of Clover- 
dale, headed by the Queen. 

Janie welcomed them with fear written all over 
her face, for the busy days were now over, and 
she had been looking for the Queen to come and 
wave her wand. The other children shared this 
91 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


feeling and were much relieved when the Queen 
cried : 

“You dear little mothers, you need not look so 
frightened, I shall not take your live dollies from 
you. On the contrary, I have brought you all here 
to tell you that the dolls can stay alive now for 
always. I hope you have profited by your busy 
days, and I want you to keep right on with them. 

“Learn something in your play. Janie must 
learn how to take care of baby. You must all 
learn how to make doll clothes, how to wash, iron 
and mend them, and do it well. Cook and have 
your tea-parties, and I am sure you will learn how 
to keep house properly some day. 

“I will now say good-by, leaving with you this 

bit of news: on Valentine’s Day we shall have a 
92 


BUSY DAYS 


party here. Come one, come all, come great and 
small, 55 — and with a quick nod she went off amid 
vigorous applause. 

What bliss was before them now, — Live Dolls 
for ever, and a party! 

Then they had a Sunday-school in earnest, the 
service consisting principally of singing, which 
was a great relief to their bottled up spirits. 

I must pass over the days that followed, and 
take you at once to good St. Valentine's Day, 
which proved to be, if not a busy day, certainly 
a most delightful one. 


93 



CHAPTER IX 

Bright and early our little maids were abroad, 
tucking their white missives under doors and then 
vanishing. 

The dolls, too, were scattering their sweet mes- 
sages about, and Love reigned supreme in Clover- 
dale. 


94 


BUSY DAYS 


The play-room was all trimmed up with bright 
tissue-paper hearts. The Queen had sent in a load 
of boxes, which Janie eyed longingly, but as the 
words, “Not to be opened” stared her in the face, 
she dared not even peep. 

The children and dolls were promptly on hand, 
and had not long to wait for the Royal Couple. 

When the King and Queen appeared and re- 
moved their long cloaks a murmur of delight swept 
over the room. They were both dressed as paper 
dolls, and how dear they looked! 

With a gay little bow the Queen cried : 

“How do you like our costumes? This is to be 
a paper-doll party, and we are all to be paper 
dolls!” 

As she talked the King opened the boxes, and 

95 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


there, oh, the lovely things! Fluffy gowns, all 
colors of the rainbow ! 

She shook them out and gave one to each child, 
and one to each doll, bidding them go into the 
doll house and dress, for she had something she 
wished to arrange in the room they were in. 

"Don’t come till I give the signal,” she cried 
as they danced away, each carrying her treasure. 

Mama came in to see the fun and to act as maid. 
The dresses fitted to perfection, and at the given 
signal the children and dolls arranged themselves 
in a line ready to march out two by two. 

Suddenly the bugle pealed ; and then a band was 
heard, much to their surprise, and when a gay lit- 
tle march was played, the children did not have 

to be told to start. They simply could not keep 

96 


BUSY DAYS 


still, and out they filed with cheeks red as roses, 
the paper gowns fluttering in all directions. Such 
dear little things were these gowns of crape paper, 
all fashioned after those seen on the dolls in Fluf- 
fytown. 

As they marched into the room, they noticed that 
the rug had been removed. Arranged about the 
floor in a circle were a number of long boxes, stand- 
ing on end. 

The Queen, in the center of this magic ring, 
directed them to march around and seat themselves 
on the floor, each child and doll in front of a box. 

“Now follow my directions exactly and see what 
happens.” 

The children listened eagerly, greatly excited 
over this mysterious performance. 

97 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


The Queen glanced quickly about the room, 
motioned mama to place the fire-screen nearer the 
fire and to close one open window. Then raising 
her wand she cried : 

“Take the lids from the boxes. 5 ’ 

The children obeyed, and a bubble of laughter 
was heard. No wonder, for they contained the 
loveliest valentines you ever saw — just the kind 
that send a thrill of joy over you when you are 
so fortunate as to receive them. You all know 
how they look to you when you remove the lid. 
You see first doors of flowers and shrubbery, with 
birds of all colors perched on the branches. When 
you pull a ribbon these doors fly back, and out 
step gay cupids or jolly little couples with hands 

on hearts, about to make elaborate courtesies. 

98 


BUSY DAYS 


Perhaps the laddie holds out a bunch of flowers to 
the wee maid standing bashfully before him; or, 
possibly, he is urging her to accept a flower heart 
on which is written in golden letters : 

“ When this you see 
Remember me ! ” 

On such as these our little group gazed spell- 
bound. Suddenly the Queen called : 

“Attention! Stand your valentines up before 
you; be sure you have pulled the string so that the 
figures are in front of their own doors.” 

Sweet strains of music filled the air. The Queen 
waved her wand, and then, oh ! what do you think 
happened 4 ? 

The cupids and lovers came to life, and went 
right on doing what they seemed to be about to do. 
99 


LOFC. 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


Courtesies were finished, flowers were accepted 
by the winsome lassies. A few saucy cupids, with 
bows and arrows, snapped the strings, sending the 
arrows flying about the room. 

Birds flew out from their leafy bowers on to the 
children’s shoulders, where they softly peeped and 
chirped until gradually they gained courage and 
trilled their gay little songs to the accompaniment 
of the band. 

The valentines now began to prance about the 
room, and very odd they looked with the paper 
backs flopping along behind. They greeted each 
other, sniffing at the flowers and admiring the birds 
which madly circled about their heads as though 
they knew their time was short and were deter- 
mined to make the most of it. 


100 


BUSY DAYS 


“Take partners for a waltz!” cried the Queen. 
The valentine lovers clasped hands, and away 
they whirled, with the children and the dolls. 

The King and Queen joined them, and a merry 
time they had with quadrilles, minuets, two-steps 
and Virginia reels. 

When this was over the Queen bade them all be 
seated in a circle as before, and refreshments were 
passed. Such goodies you never saw! Ice-cream 
in the shape of frozen cupids, birds, and flow- 
ers; cakes in the form of hearts, and for favors 
each child was presented with an enormous candy 
heart. 

Did the valentines eat ice-cream? Well, I 
should say they did ! While they ate, those saucy 
birds perched on the edge of their dishes and had 


101 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


their sip, and then, growing more bold, they flew 
to the shoulders of the children and pecked bites 
of food from their small red lips. 

And now the Queen once more stood in the 
center of the circle, raised her wand, and said: 
“Take your last sniff of the flowers, and say good- 
by to the Valentines. Stand the boxes up on end 
as before.” 

Then to the Valentines: 

“Make your bows, and take back your love-knots 
and blossoms, for you must go back to your own 
sweet dreamland.” 

As she was about to wave the wand, the King 
cried : 

“Wait, my beloved, — what about the birds? 
How shall we get them back?” 


102 


BUSY DAYS 


“Oh, I forgot,” laughed the Queen. “Put out 
the lights, please, for a moment.” 

This done, the children saw by the dim light of 
the fire that the birds, thinking night had come, 
flew down at once in search of their nests, which 
they soon found. When they were settled all that 
could be heard was a gentle cheeping from the 
little birds; then there was a sudden silence, and 
they knew that the Queen had put them all to 
sleep. 

The lights were now turned on, and the children 
and dolls rose to their feet and crowded about the 
King and Queen, crying: 

“Oh, that was the best time! How could you 
ever think to do it? We shall never forget it!” 

Then at a motion from mama they joined hands 
103 


THE LIVE DOLLS’ 


and, forming a circle, danced around the Royal 
Couple, singing: 

“ This is the way we dance for joy, dance for joy, dance for joy, 
This is the way we dance for joy, 

On Valentine’s Day in the morning.” 

This is the end of the busy days, and now I will 
tell you a secret! You must promise not to tell, 
and tell every one you see not to say a word about 
it. It is this: Since the Queen has left these 
dollies alive, Cloverdale is now a most bewitching 
place; and lest all the wee mothers may, like Peter 
Pan, find some wings and fly over there and decide 
to stay, I have been requested to take up my abode 
in that village and report all proceedings regu- 
larly. 

So be content to stay in your own dear homes, 
104 


BUSY DAYS 

and I shall do my best to tell you everything that 
happens. 

Now I bid you a fond good-by until next time. 


THE END 





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